Method of and apparatus for modifying the shape of metallic tubes



y 7, 1929- G. G. POWERS 12,118

METHOD 0: AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING THE SHAPE OF METALLIC TUBES Filed. D60. 3, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ITZUGVZZbr May 7,' 1929. ca. 6. POWERS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING THE SHAPE OF METALLIC TUBES Filed Dec. 3, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiza 2 72257 5607;1" 6720744 715 59 Mafi? 1929. G, POWERS 1,712,118

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING THE SHAPE OF METALLIC TUBES Filed Dec. 3, 1927 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jar/6722b? 6907396 61 0242 715 Patented May 7, 1929.

v UNITED STATES PAT 1,712,118 ENT OFFICE.

GEORGE e. POWERS, F onicaeo, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF ANID APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING THE SHAPE OF METALLIC TUBES.

Application filed December My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for modifying the shape of metallie tubes, my invention being particularly useful in the production of hollow rods of desired shapes to be employed in the construction of bedsteads, though the invention is not to be limited to any particular use thereof.

' In practicing the method of my invention,

I effect the relative rotation of the tube,

whose shape is to be modified, and a depressing tool that is employed to effect the modification in the shape of the tube. The tool is pressed laterally toward the axis of the tube being heate in accordance with my invention, in the region of the place of engagement of the tool with the tube to render the tube sufliciently ductile to readily-yield to the pressure of the tool. The tool may be merely moved transversely of the tube to a predetermined manner to reshape thev tube to conform to the design that is predetermined by the templet.

The invention will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying V drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the inventionyFig. 2 is a side view of one form of templet; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional View on line 4-4. of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view taken crosswise of the tube being operated upon and showing a part of the mechanism with a portion removed; Fig. 6 y is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detailed view illustrating one of the parts that enter into the structure-shown .in Fig. 5; Fig.8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 7 Fig.9 is a side view of a tube whose shape has been modified by the machine as illustrated; and'Fig. 10 illustrates another modification in the shape of a tube, which may be efi'ected by the process and machine of my invention with a suittube and into en agement with the tube, the

3, 1927. Serial No. 237,494.

able form of templet substituted for the templet illustrated and by the employment of an additional step in the process following the operation of the machine on the tube. The tube 1 that is to be operated on, is placed in a suitable'tool holder, the tool holder illustrated being inclusive of a tailstock 2 carrying a pin 3 that is tightly received within one end of the tube, and a head-stock 4 containing a ,pin 5 that is tightly received within the other. end of the tube, the head-stock 4 being movable longitudinall'y of the axis of the tube by means of a hand lever 6 which operates upon the head-stock in a mannerwell known to those familiar with lathe construction. The tube is turned upon its axis in any suitable way, as by means of a belt passing about a pulley fixed with respect to the head-stock, as is understood by those familiar with the art.

The lathe illustrated is inclusive of a suitable bed 7 arranged along the common axis of the pins 3 and 5 of the tail and head stocks. I The tool illustrated, for operating upon the tube, is inclusive of a plurality of tube-depressing rollers 8 which are mounted to turn upon carriers 9 which are disposed within grooves 10 extending radially of the tube and formedin a circular block ll'which is preferably mounted to turn upon the common axis of the tube and the pins 3 and 5,

there being hand levers 12 for turning theblock. This block, in effect, constitutes a tool holder. The carriers 9 are provided with cam rollers 13 at their outerends, these cam rollers being received within straightsided'cam grooves 14 which are provided in the frame 15 in which the block 11 is supported and turned. The cam grooves 14 in the frame are arranged angularly to the radii upon which the carriers 9 are disposed so that as the block 11 is turned, said carriers will be radially moved to bring the tube depressing rollers 8 toward or from the axis of the tube and, consequently, into and out of engagement with the tube. Said rollers are desirably simultaneously engaged with the tube and are desirabl pressed into the tube equal distances durfiig their simulta- 'neous movements so that the tube will not be bulged out of line with its axis during the time that it is being shaped. The frame 15 is desirably non-rotatable and may be normally stationary, if the depressing tool is to operate .in a fixed zone, or may be moved longitudinally of the axis of the tube, if the depressing rollers are to be moved into different zones, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

In order that the depressing tool may effectively operate upon the tube to change the shape of the tube, heat is applied to the tube in the l-e ion of the place or places of engagement of the tool wit-l1 the tube. The source of heat is desirablyfurnished by a jet of gas issuing through the gas conveying pipe 16 and ignited where it issues from the pipe, the gas [lame preferably impinging upon the tube with the result that the tube is .made sulliciently ductile to make the tool operate successfully thereon. The frame 15 is desirably bolted upon the bracket 17, this bracket being clamped to the base block 18 which has a bottom tongue portion re'ceivable in the groove 19 formed in the carriage 2t and extending atright angles to the axis of the tube. Said base block is engaged by a feeding screw 21 having a handle 22, said screw being turned by said handle to position said base block 18 and said frame 15 with respect to the carriage. The carriage itself is formed with underlying, tapered grooves 23 which receive corres )ondingly shaped ribs 24 upon the bed of the machine and arranged along or parallel to the axis of the tube that is upon the pins 3 and 5. Said carriage also is provided with a block 25 which underlies and engages an overhanging portion ot the bed, as shown in Fig. The carriage also has an apron 26 in which a shaft 27 is journaled, this shaft carrying a pinion 28 which engages a rack 25) provided upon the bed 7, Fig. 3. The shaft 27 carries a handle 30 by which the pinion 28 may be turned in order to move the carriage 2O longitudinally of the bed 7 to locate the zone in which the depressing rollers 8 are to operate.

Each of the hand levers 12 by which the block 11 is turned is desirably guided in its movements by a templet 31 which is shaped according to the design that is to be produced. One'form of product is illustrated in Fig. 9. Each annular groove 32 formed in the tube is desirably produced by the rollers 8 operating in but one zone, the portions of the tube between said annular grooves constituting beads. Where more extended lengths of the tube are. to be moditied to produce shapes such as are illustrated at 33, for example, the depressing rollers 8 are not only moved toward the axis of the tube by the operation of the lever 12 but are also moved lengthwise of the tube as they are being moved crosswise of the tube, the

etlected by turning the handle 30. A sec-- 0nd one of a great many shapes which may be produced is illust 'ated in Fig. 10. In the shape illustrated in this figure, seven grooves 32 are produced by movement of the depressing rollers 8 toward the axis of the tube while the tube is straight, the tube being removed from the lathe and turned to produce the quadrant shown while the tube is still hot.

\Vhile 1 have shown one form of machine made in accordance with my invention and whereby the method of in invention may be practiced, 1 do not wish "to be limited thereto.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. The method of modifying the shape of metallic tubes. which consists in ell'ecting the relative rotation of a depressing tool and such tube upon the axis of the tube, pressing the tool laterally toward and moving it along the tube and into engagement with the tube, and heating the tube in the region of the place of engagement of thetool with the tube to render the tube sufiiciently duetile to readily yield to the pressure of the tool.

2. In a machine for modifying the shapes of tubes, the combination with a tube holder which is rotatable upon the axis of the tube held by said holder, of a depressing tool movable laterally of and pressing upon the tube and movable along its axis, and a source of heat for heatin the tube and rendering it sufficiently ductlle to readily yield to the pressure of the tool.

In a machine for modifying the shapes of tubes, the combination with a. tube holder, of a depressing tool, a holder for. the tool, said holders being relatively rotatable upon the axis of the tube held by the holder and relatively movable toward and along such axis, and a source of heat for heating the tube and rendering it sutliciently ductile to readily yield to the pressure of the tool.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein a lever is included for moving the tool toward and from the tube and a templet is also included to guide the movements of the lever.

5. The structure of claim 3, wherein a lever is included for moving the tool toward and from the tube and a templet is also ]included to guide the movements of the ever.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

GEORGE GITPOVVERS. 

